U.S. District Court Judge Christina Reiss ruled against the Grocery Manufacturers’ Association (GMA) and other industry groups in their request for a preliminary order to block a genetically modified (GMO) food law from going into effect, according to a U.S. News and World Report article available here. Agri-Pulse also published an article available hereand WRAL here.

The Vermont law could make the state the first in the country to require labeling of GMO foods and would go into effect July 1, 2016.

The judge partially granted and partially denied the state’s motion to dismiss the industry lawsuit, which means the case could go to trial, according to WRAL.

The Grocery Manufacturers Association said it was pleased the court “found us likely to succeed on several of our claims” but was disappointed at the denial of its request for a preliminary injunction.

“Manufacturers are being harmed, and they are being harmed now,” the association said in a statement. “Act 120 is unconstitutional and imposes burdensome new speech requirements on food manufacturers and retailers.”

The Center for Food Safety (CFS) hailed the federal court’s decision, according to Agri-Pulse.

“This important ruling affirms the constitutionality of genetically engineered food labeling, as well as the rights of Vermonters and U.S. citizens across the country,” said

George Kimbrell, senior attorney for Center for Food Safety (CFS) and counsel. “Americans are demanding right to know if their food is produced through genetic engineering, for health, environmental and many other reasons. This decision is a crucial step in protecting those rights.”

CFS also noted that, in the denying the Plaintiffs’ injunction, Judge Reiss declared, “Because the State has established that Act 120’s GE disclosure requirement is reasonably related to the State’s substantial interests, under Zauderer,Act 120’s GE disclosure requirement is constitutional.”

For more information on biotechnology, please visit the National Agricultural Law Center’s website here.

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Located in Fayetteville, Arkansas, the National Agricultural Law Center serves the nation’s vast agricultural community and is a key partner of the USDA National Agricultural Library. For more information, click here.
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